Author Topic: Next Question (Read 782 times)

Trinity · « **on:** October 10, 2007, 03:02:11 PM »

Does darkness over power or obliterate light, or is it the other way around? To put it another way, is the problem with this world an over abundance of darkness or a shortage of light?

dust-7 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 10, 2007, 03:31:47 PM »

Quote from: Trinity

Does darkness over power or obliterate light, or is it the other way around? To put it another way, is the problem with this world an over abundance of darkness or a shortage of light?

The problem since Our Lord's Ascension, even beginning in Apostolic times, was the rejection of God and His Church in favor of heathenism, heresy and apostacy. During The Life, many rejected Our Lord, or were in the process of setting Him up. During the Passion, the schemes of these were allowed to bear the bad fruit by God's Will, as Our Lord triumphed over evil, over the underworld, and gave salvation to all the chosen people, Jєω and Gentile alike, and even those who rejected Him if only they would confess Himself and the new Church.

Trinity · « **Reply #2 on:** October 10, 2007, 03:43:04 PM »

Aye, even St. Paul said the forces of iniquity were already at work. But you haven't answered my question.

Miss_Fluffy · « **Reply #3 on:** October 10, 2007, 03:59:03 PM »

I would say lack of light... although this is understood in a spiritual context.

All sin involves turning away from God, our source of light. We must turn away from God before we even begin to commit sin. We block out God's light with our inequities. At least, that's how I understand it.

Dawn · « **Reply #4 on:** October 10, 2007, 04:00:11 PM »

Lack of light due to the fact that the Mass has all but dissappeared. Which of course allows darkness to flourish and smother and it is.

Trinity · « **Reply #5 on:** October 10, 2007, 04:09:39 PM »

Ah, the Mass we all need so much, which has been gone from the majority of people for centuries. And they lost the light and lived in deepening darkness.

Correct, this is about spiritual darkness. Remember that the first sin blinds you a certain amount, the second sin another certain amount, and so on, until you are totally blind. When people first come to their senses and start going to confession they peel off layer after layer.

But the point is that darkness does not quench light. To enter darkness one has to put out the light. Always. To vanquish darkness one has only to turn on the light. I think of St. Monica when the servent girl called her a "wine bibber." Instant light.

dust-7 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 10, 2007, 07:27:00 PM »

Quote from: Trinity

Aye, even St. Paul said the forces of iniquity were already at work. But you haven't answered my question.

I did. The light is rejected. It's rejected by us when we sin, and we all do, or even are never cured of some vice or other which plagues us. Even finding fault in ourselves where there is none would be one such. But I doubt that's such a temptation in these times. We tend to react with some anger when we're pushed, hemmed in, shoved, etc. Sometimes we might not feel guilt if it's a matter of defense. Most of the time we ought, and will, feel guilt. We have to reflect and consider, how much of the light do we reject as inconvenient, or too far away we think?

There is the Word. There is that which seeks a substitute, or to mostly worship itself - the darkness. Humility vs pride. Humility says God's Will be done. Pride says God's Will is a point of view that is also brought to the table, as it were, and perhaps will ultimately not be considered.

Failure. Even the Saints failed. And we fail.

So the Church is the light. The graces of The Sacraments are a cure. The darkness fights against it. Our own darkness fights against what is right and Good. But if we remember some humility, and remember Who is God, and that we must repent and use our will to conform to His Will, if we stand with Him in these times and not against, we have our opportunity to stand with Him in the indescribable life to come, rather than be shut out in indescribable torment.

Trinity · « **Reply #7 on:** October 10, 2007, 07:53:07 PM »

I was just watching "Shenandoah" and in it Stewart has a great line. He was telling his "children" that we have to try. "Because if you don't try, then you don't do. And if you don't do, then what are you here for."

If the problem with this world is the shortage of light, then we have to try to increase that light. And our light can't be a quiet little thing shared among ourselves or we will be just as insignificant as the other odd balls in the world and so will our little lights.